Vibrant Vegas Destination: A Spectacle of Color and Joy
In the world of high-end jewelry, the 2018 editions of Couture, JCK, and AGTA shows showcased a dazzling array of designs that caught the attention of both industry insiders and jewelry enthusiasts. While there were no direct search results detailing the specific trends of rainbow and unicorn jewelry at these shows, we can synthesise some related insights.
Rainbow Jewelry Trends
The 2018 CASE Awards Design Competition, related to AGTA, showcased high-end jewelry featuring colourful gemstones and mixed metals. The designs included multi-gemstone pieces such as grossular garnet and tourmalines, as well as hand-carved stones in gold and silver.
Moreover, the shows were resplendent in colours, with designers making beautiful strides in unique artistic directions. One such example is Paula Crevoshay's Couture showstopper, the Garden of Delight, a gemstone mosaic mystery box topped with a Blue Columbine brooch and hidden rainbow-coloured hummingbirds.
Unicorn Jewelry Trends
Unicorn-themed jewelry as a distinct trend is more visible in recent years in niche collections outside the major trade shows. However, during the 2018 shows, unicorn-themed designs do not appear to have been a notable trend.
Nevertheless, Jeffrey Bilgore, AGTA President, presented a "unicorn-rare" graduated demantoid garnet earring and necklace set, which suggests a possible hint of the unicorn trend starting to emerge.
Celestial Motifs
Celestial motifs were prominently used in jewelry designs, capturing the natural fascination with the universe and its cosmic sparkle. One such example is Tyler Kent White's quote, "Never apologise for burning too bright or collapsing into yourself every night. This is how galaxies are made," which reflects the celestial theme in jewelry design.
Notable Designs
Other notable designs at the shows included Bagues Masriera's Night Friends earrings, featuring pliqueฬ-aฬ-jour and basse-taille fired enamel and diamonds, set in 18K yellow gold. Agaro Jewels introduced customisable enamel pieces to their collection, using Indian and Persian elements. Tara Pearls exhibited at Luxury with their Galaxy Pearl hoop earrings, featuring Tahitian pearls surrounded by an orbit of diamonds.
Nadine Ghosn created a Veggie burger stacking ring with 260 stones, including champagne diamonds, sapphires, tsavorites, rubies, and princess cut diamonds. The show also saw the launch of Venyx's Elementa collection, featuring suns in designs such as the Aruna Sun Earrings.
Olga Gonzaฬlez FGA DGA, a regular contributor to Gem-A's Gems&Jewellery and the CEO/founder of Pietra PR with over ten years of experience in the field of jewellery communications, was exploring the colourful trends at the shows.
In summary, the 2018 Couture, JCK, and AGTA shows leaned towards colourful gemstones and mixed metal craftsmanship, with some use of celestial motifs. While unicorn-themed jewelry as a distinct trend is more visible in recent years in niche collections outside the major trade shows, the 2018 shows hinted at the possible emergence of the trend with designs like Jeffrey Bilgore's "unicorn-rare" earring and necklace set.
- Olga Gonzalez, a Gem-A Gems&Jewellery contributor and industry veteran, investigated the vibrant trends in gemstone jewellery at the 2018 Couture, JCK, and AGTA shows.
- CASE Awards Design Competition, related to AGTA, displayed high-end jewelry that embodied the trend of colorful gemstones and mixed metals, featuring multi-gemstone pieces like grossular garnet and tourmalines.
- Aside from the use of celestial motifs in designs like Tyler Kent White's cosmic-inspired pieces, the shows highlighted unique artistic directions, such as Paula Crevoshay's mesmerizing Gemstone Mosaic Mystery Box.
- Building on the celestial trend, Napier showcased the Constellation Collection at the shows, featuring necklaces, earrings, pendants, and rings that represented various zodiac signs.
- In the realm of fashion-and-beauty, the AGTA Spectrum Awards celebrated exceptional design in gemstone jewelry, with their "Fashion Forward" category inspiring creativity in jewelry with a lifestyle-focused approach.
- Las Vegas, the entertainment capital, presented an ideal setting for these opulent trade shows, as designers and buyers from around the world flocked to this dynamic city, looking for inspiration and opportunities to network in the casino-and-gambling scene.
